Squeezing apparatus for treating and processing strip- and web-shaped material



sin/re Feb. 8, 1966 F. w. BEINKE SQUEEZING APPARATUS FOR TREATING AND PROCESSING STRIP- AND Filed Oct. 50, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTO 75-1-8 o'r/cf IM f M 3 Feb. 8, 1966 F. w. BEINKE 3,233,537

SQUEEZING APPARATUS FOR TREATING AND PROCESSING STRIP- AND WEB-SHAPED MATERIAL Filed Oct. 50, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2

United States Patent 3,233,537 SQUEEZING APPARATUS FOR TREATING AND PROCESING STRIP- AND WEB-SHAPED MATERIAL Friedrich Wilhelm Beinhe, Hansen, Wiesental, Germany, assignor to Gerber & Co. G.m.b.H., Krefeltl, Germany Filed Oct. 34), 1963, Ser. No. 3%,131 Claims. (Cl. 160-170) The present invention relates to a squeezing apparatus for treating and processing strip or webshaped material, which apparatus comprises a sta-t-ionarily journalled and a displ-aceably journalled squeezing roller respectively, said rollers being adapted relatively to be pressed against each other.

With heretofore known squeezing apparatuses of the ab0ve-mentioned type, the displaceably journalled squeezing roller is adapted by means of a compressed air operable cylinder-piston system to be pressed against the stationarily journalled squeezing roller. Such cylinderpiston systems, however, require considerable space and have to be continuously and carefully serviced. This is due to the fact that in wet machines, the cylinders and pistons corrode extremely fast so that an increased wear of the sealing sleeves or gaskets is unavoidable while the pistons have the tendency to seize. This, in turn, leads to frequent break-downs and work stoppages. Furthermore, depending on the Width of the roller, a special gauging of the pressure gauge is necessary because the cylinder-piston systems are available only in certain sizes so that also the pressing force of the displace-ably journalled roller will vary with different widths of the roller unless the pressure has been varied and adapted to the various widths of the roller by gauging the pressure gauge accordingly.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a squeezing apparatus for treating and processing strip or web-shaped material, in which the displaceably journalled roller can be pressed against the stationarily journalled roller with a steplessly variable pressing force.

It is another object of this invention to provide a squeezing apparatus as set forth in the preceding paragraph, which will require a minimum of space.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates a section through a squeezing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a section taken along the line IIII of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross section through clamping means for use in connection with the arrangement according to the invention.

The squeezing apparatus according to the present invention is characterized primarily inthat the displaceably journalled squeezing roller is adapted to be pressed against the stationarily journalled squeezing roller by means of a lever and a pressure hose.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the squeezing apparatus illustrated therein comprises a housing or frame provided on both sides of the squeezing apparatus. The said housing or frame has a web 11 in which a squeezing roller 12 is rotatably but non-displaceably journalled on a shaft 12'. A movable squeezing roller 13 cooperating with the squeezing roller 12 is displaceably journalled on a shaft 13 in a short arm 14 of a two-arm lever 15. The two ann lever 15 is at its vertex tiltably journalled about a pivot 16 which is adjustably journalled in frame or housing 11) so as to be displace-able in the direction of the double arrow 17, whereby a lack in the Patented Feb. 8, 1956 manufacturing precision of the lever or of the squeezing rollers may be compensated for.

The mechanism for adjusting the height or level ofthe pivot 1% for compensating for deviations in the cast and in the diameter of either or both of the rollers 12 and 13 will be evident from FIGS. 1 and 2. In the rear wall 10a of frame 14 there is provided a slot 28 through which extends the neck 16a of a bolt .16 the end 16b of which forms a pivot pivotally supporting the two-arm lever Bolt 16 is firmly secured to the rear wall 100 by a nut 30 and washer 31. Bolt 16 has an enlarged section 16 through which extends a threaded bore lcthreadedly receiving a threaded bolt 32. Bolt 32 which holds bolt 16 in its respective position is firmly secured to frame 10 by a nut 33.

If it is desired to adjust the level of bolt 16, nuts 30 and 33 are loosened and screw 32 is turned in the leftward or rightward direction depending on whether the new position of bolt 16 is to be higher or lower than its previous position. After bolt 16 has been adjusted to the desired level, nuts 30 and 33 are again tightened.

The two-arm or angle lever 15 is by means of a safety ring or spring ring 34 secured against accidental slippage from bolt 16.

As will be evident from the drawing, the shorter arm 14 of the two-arm lever is approximately perpendicular to the direction of the pressing force of the squeezing rollers. The two-arm lever 15 furthermore has a longer arm which is approximately parallel to the direction of the pressing forces of the squeezing rollers.

Provided between the long lever arm 18 of lever 15 and web 11 there is a pressure hose 19. One end 20 of the pressure hose 19 is by means of a clamping member 21 connected to the long lever arm 18, whereas the other end 22 of the pressure hose 19 is connected to web 11 by means of a clamping member 23.

The clamping member 23 comprises two clamping elements 23a having oppositely located recesses 43, 43 for receiving the hose end. Inserted into the hose end 22 is a mouth piece of a pipe 22 which in its turn is connected to a feeding line 42 with a pressure gauge 41. The feeding line 4-2 in its turn is connected to a sourceof pressure fluid not shown in the drawing. The hose endis firmly clamped to themouth piece of pipe 22 by H tightening the clamping members 23 by means of screws.

35. As will be evident from the drawing, pipe 22 passes through an opening in frame 10. I

In the particular embodiment shown in. the drawing, the pressure hose 19 is bent twice. However, if desired, the pressure hose may be bent once or more, depending on the magnitude of the lever stroke and the pressing forces to be produced.

The drawing illustrates the maximum hose length to be mounted in the arrangement according to the present invention. The supporting surface of arm 18 for the hose multiplied by the pressure in the hose equals the total force which will be brought to act upon arm 18. If the hose or, more wecifically, the said supporting surface of arm 18 for the hose would would be reduced by also the total force acting upon the arm 18 of lever 15 would be reduced by 50%. It is therefore obvious that when designing the arrangement according to the present invention, the point of attack of the total force exerted by the hose with regard to pivot 16, in other words the lever ratio, etc., will have to be taken into consideration.

One of the great advantages of the present invention will presently appear. It will be evident that thepressing force of the rollers is dependent on the width thereof. A squeezing apparatus of the type according to the present invention exerts a certain pressure, for instance 25 kilograms per centimeter of the width of the roller.

With

3 this specific pressure assumed, it will be evident that with a roller width of 110 centimeters, a total force of 110 25=2750 kilograms would be obtained. If the roller has, for instance, a width of 200 centimeters, the squeezing apparatus would have to produce a force of 200 25=5000 kilo-grams.

The customary air pressure installations in the industry, as for instance air pressure networks within the plant, stationary or movable compressors, or the like, furnish a pressure of approximately 7 atmospheres above atmos pheric pressure. If no variation within the squeezing apparatus were provided at the force producing station, in conformity with the Width of the rollers of the respective machine, it would be necessary to provide a specially gauged pressure gauge in conformity with the width of the roller. This would mean that for the maximum possible roller-width for which the machine has been designed, a pressure of for instance 7 atmospheres above atmospheric pressure has to be made available, whereas all smaller roller widths would receive a correspondingly lower air pressure.

A pressure gauge for a maximum operating pressure of 7 atmospheres above atmospheric pressure. corresponds for instance to a roller width of 380 centimeters. A squeezing apparatus with half the said roller width, for instance with a roller width of 190 centimeters, would have to be equipped with a pressure gauge of 3.5 atmospheres above atmospheric pressure, etc.

Inasmuch as pressure gauges are massapro-duced, it is rather difiicult to obtain a sufficient stock of pressure gauges for the various roller width-s and operating pressures. Therefore, it is the tendency to be able to employ one pressure gauge, for instance for an operating pressure of 7 atmospheres above atmospheric pressure, and to take other steps to meet other pressures with regard to different roller widths. These other steps may be taken by varying the hose length for the squeezing apparatus of different sizes.

As will be obvious from the above, the arrangement according to the present invention makes it possible to employ a standard pressure gauge without the latter requiring a special gauging with various widths of squeezing rollers.

Thus, for purposes of varying the pressing force in view of different widths of the pressing rollers, it is merely necessary to vary the length of the hose. In order to obtain a corresponding stroke at correspondingly high pressing forces, the pressure hose is folded once or several times. Thus, by shortening the hose, a reduced pressing force will be obtained whereas by increasing the length of the hose, a larger pressing force will be obtained.

Inasmuch as in this way metallic elements movable relative to each other have been dispensed with, the wear and simultaneous corrosion inherent thereto, will not occur.

A further advantage of the invention consists in a reduced servicing requirement, while the cost of the apparatus has over heretofore known squeezing apparatuses of the type involved been reduced by from 90 to 85%.

It may be added that the short arm 14 of the two-arm lever 15 has its outer end resting on a plate or dish 24 engaging one end of a pressure spring 25 which is mounted in a recess 26 of the housing 19 and serves for balancing the weight of the squeezing roller 13. Thearrow 27 indicates the stroke of the squeezing ro ler 13. Of course, the lower end of spring 25 is likewise supported by a spring dish 36 which in its turn is supported by an adjusting screw 37 screwed into the bottom 38 of the spring compartment 2s. Adjusting screw 37 has provided thereon a counter nut 39 for securing the adjusting screw 37 in its respective adjusted position. it will be appreciated that by adjustment of-screw 37 the thrust of spring 25 may be adjusted so as to balance the weight of the upper roller 13 in conformity with the location of the piYOt 16.

It will also be appreciated that since the pressure hose 19 is elastic, it will up to its limit of its stretchability adapt itself to any predetermined shape. In the particular arrangement shown in the drawing, this shape is determined on one side by the long arm 18 of the angle lever i5 and on the other side by the inclined web 11. If Web 11 were vertical, the pressure hose 19 would have a uniform cross section. However, web 11 is deliberately arranged at an angle because arm 18 cooperating with web 11 through hose 19 does not carry out a straight but a tilting movement about pivot 16. From this arrangement of the angle lever 15 it will be evident that when lever 15 carries out a titlt-ing movement about its pivot is, the lower end of the long arm 18 will carry out a larger stroke than all other points on the long arm 18 which are closer to pivot 16.

It is furthermore to be noted that when the hose 1% is inflated, it can be inflated only up to a certain thickness.

In order to cover the large stroke within the range of the lower end of lever ar-m I18, it is necessary in conformity with the specific showing of the arrangement of FIG. 1 to provide three hose layers, whereas within the range of the upper portion of arm 13, Le. closer to the pivot 16, two hose layers are sufiicient. In order to provide space for the required three hose layers at the lower end of arm 13, that end of the web 11 which is adjacent the lower end of arm 18 had to be spaced to a greater extent from arm 18 than the upper end of web 11. This is the reason why web 11 is arranged at an incline.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the particular construction shown in the drawing, but also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: i

7.. A squeezing apparatus for selectively squeezing strip and web material, which includes: frame means, first squeezing roller means, first bearing means stationarily supported by said frame means and rotatably supporting said first roller means, second squeezing roller means, a two-arm lever pivotally supported by said frame means and comprising a first arm With bearing means rotatably supporting said second roller means for cooperation with said first roller means, said two-arm lever also comprising a second arm, said frame means including wall means facing said second arm and being arranged in spaced relationship thereto, an inflatable hose folded toward itself and interposed between said wall means and said second arm so that one hose section rests against said second arm while another hose section rests against said wall means, means for connecting said hose to a pressure fluid source, and means for varying the inflatable length of said one rose section resting against said second arm to thereby vary the tilting pressure exerted upon said second arm.

2. A squeezing apparatus for selectively squeezing strip and web material, which includes: frame means, first squeezing roller means, first bearing means stationarily supported by said frame means and rotatably supporting said first roller means, second squeezing roller means adapted to be moved toward said first squeezing roller means so as in cooperation therewith to squeeze strip and web material passed therebetween, a two-arm lever pivotally supported by said frame means and com prising a shorter arm with bearing means rotatably supporting said second roller means for cooperation with said first roller means, said shorter arm extending in a direction nearly perpendicular to the direction in which said second squeezing roller means is movable toward said first squeezing roller means, said two-arm lever also comprising a longer arm extending in a direction approximately parallel to the direction of movement of said second squeezing roller means toward said first squeezing roller means, said frame means including wall means facing said longer arm and being arranged in spaced relationship thereto, an inflatable h-ose folded toward itself and interposed between said wall means and said longer arm so that one hose section rests against said longer arm while another hose section rests against said wall means, means for connecting said hose to a pressure fluid source, and means for varying the inflatable length of said one hose section resting against said longer arm to thereby vary the tilting pressure exerted upon said longer arm and thereby upon said second squeezing roller means toward said first squeezing roller means.

3. A squeezing apparatus for selectively squeezing strip and web material, which includes: frame means, first squeezing roller means, first bearing means stationarily supported by said frame means and rotatably supporting said first roller means, second squeezing roller means adapted to be moved toward said first squeezing roller means so as in cooperation therewith to squeeze strip and web material passed therebetween, a two-arm lever pivotally supported by said frame means and comprising a first arm with bearing means rotatably supporting said second roller means for cooperation with said first roller means to squeeze material passed therebetween, said two-arm lever also comprising a second arm, said frame means including wall means facing said second arm and being arranged in spaced relationship thereto while being inclined with regard to said second arm so that the spacing between said second arm and said wall means decreases toward the pivot point of said two-arm lever, an inflatable hose folded toward itself and interposed between said wall means and said second arm so that one hose section rests against said second arm while another hose section rests against said wall means, means for connecting said hose to a pressure fluid source, and means for varying the inflatable length of said one hose section resting against said second arm to thereby vary the tilting pressure exerted upon said second arm and thereby upon said second squeezing roller means toward said first squeezing roller means.

4. A squeezing apparatus for selectively squeezing strip and web material, which includes: frame means, first squeezing roller means, first bearing means stationarily supported by said frame means and rotatably supporting said first roller means, second squeezing roller means, a two-arm lever pivotally supported by said frame means and comprising a first arm with bearing means rotatably supporting said second roller means for cooperation With said first roller means to squeeze strip and web material being passed therebetween, said two-arm lever also comprising a second arm, second frame means including wall means facing said second arm and being arranged in spaced relationship and at an acute angle thereto so that the spacing between said wall means and said second arm decreases toward the pivot point of said two-arm lever, an inflatable hose folded toward itself and interposed between said wall means and said second arm so that one inflatable hose section rests against said second arm while another inflatable hose section rests against said wall means, means for connecting said hose to a pressure fluid source, means for varying the inflatable length of said one hose section resting against said second arm to thereby vary the tilting pressure exerted upon said sec ond arm and through the latter upon said second roller means, and means engaging the free end of said first arm and continuously urging said two-arm lever to tilt in a direction for moving said second roller means away from said first roller means.

5. A squeezing apparatus according to claim 4, which includes pivot means pivotally supporting said two-arm lever and also includes adjustable bolt means extending through said pivot means and supported by said frame means for adjusting the level of said pivot means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,638,819 5/1953 Hornbostel 68-258 X 2,851,869 9/1958 Quoos et a1. 17O X FOREIGN PATENTS 121,409 6/ 1901 Germany. 338,174 6/ 1959 Switzerland.

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

LOUIS O. MAASSEL, Examiner. 

1. A SQUEEZING APPARATUS FOR SELECTIVELY SQUEEZING STRIP AND WEB MATERIAL, WHICH INCLUDES: FRAME MEANS, FIRST SQUEEZING ROLLER MEANS, FIRST BEARING MEANS STANTIONARILY SUPPORTED BY SAID FRAME MEANS AND ROTATABLY SUPPORTING SAID FIRST ROLLER MEANS, SECOND SQUEEZING ROLLER MEANS, A TWO-ARM LEVER PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED BY SAID FRAME MEANS AND COMPRISING A FIRST ARM WITH BEARING MEANS ROTATABLY SUPPORTING SAID SECOND ROLLER MEANS FOR COOPERATION WITH SAID FIRST ROLLER MEANS, SAID TWO-ARM LEVER ALSO COMPRISING A SECOND ARM, SAID FRAME MEANS INCLUDING WALL MEANS FACING SAID SECOND ARM AND BEING ARRANGED IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP THERETO, AN INFLATABLE HOSE FOLDED TOWARD ITSELF AND INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID WALL MEANS AND SAID SECOND ARM SO THAT ONE HOSE SECTION RESTS AGAINST SAID SECOND ARM WHILE ANOTHER HOSE SECTION RESTS AGAINST SAID WALL MEANS, MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID HOSE TO A PRESSURE FLUID SOURCE, AND MEANS FOR VARYING THE INFLATABLE LENGTH OF SAID ONE HOSE SECTION RESTING AGAINST SAID SECOND ARM TO THEREBY VARY THE TILTING PRESSURE EXERTED UPON SAID SECOND ARM. 